TCL presents reflective screen for tablets

The Chinese manufacturer TCL has presented a reflective screen for tablets. The screen has no backlight, only a reflective layer. As a result, the screen is thinner and uses less power, but it will probably be difficult to see in less light.

TCL, besides maker of TVs, tablets and telephones, also supplier of displays, presents the screen at IFA as Nxtpaper. An infographic shows that it is a screen with regular RGB sub-pixels without backlight, but with a ‘reflector lcm’ behind it. Lcm could stand for ‘liquid crystal module’, but the manufacturer does not explain the term anywhere.

By omitting the backlight, the screen would be 36 percent thinner than a backlit LCD and consume 65 percent less power. Due to the lack of backlight, the screen is probably hard to see in low light, because it uses reflection. The screen is said to offer 25 percent more contrast than an e-ink screen. Nxtpaper screen resolution is full hd.

TCL is trying to market it as a screen that is easy on the eyes and does not emit blue light. There are no products with the screen technology yet. TCL’s own new tablets have a traditional LCD that the manufacturer refers to as Nxtvision.

Reflective screens are not new. They have been on consumer electronics in various forms for decades. In recent years, watches with such screens have appeared. Some of them have a transflective screen; they can reflect light, but also have a backlight for use in less light. That is, among other things, on smartwatches such as Amazfit.